Army Guy

I;ll break it down for you, Pte to Cpl can be achieved in 2.5 years, Cpl to Mcpl can be as little as 2 years, in the Combat arms trades once your PLQ qual your eligable,...Mcpl to Sgt once again 2 years, Sgt to WO is 3 years, etc etcthere are exceptions to every rule, prove your outstanding and you;ll get promoted faster, step on your dick and well you;ll stay in rank for sometime,... Same as the officer rank levels 2 and Lt to capt are consider junior officer ranks and as long as you donèt step on your dick and meet all your profomance objectives you ll be promoted each level in 2 to 3 years....At the Maj and above rank level you need specific courses to be promoted.... get the course and you^ll progress, but everything is healthy now.... True, but not always so, there are exceptions perhaps time in rank does not allow you to be a section or plt commander, due to unit requirements,,,,then an exception may be made, however training pkgs take this into account and provide you the training you need or required, without actually commanding a section or plt.... No thats what 29 years experience in the military has told me, And william your link is for the Somalia inquiry, it;s alittle dated donèt you think, try the recruiting link on the DND web site.... This is old minimum time required for promotion is 30 mths from Pte to Cpl The next promotion requires leadership training - 2 years for rank master corporal. (esentially this is how long it takes for people to get degrees.. eg. bachelors and masters degrees) This is true however like i said before there are exceptions to the rule, now leadership training once completed could get you promoted....Mcpl is a non commisioned rank does not require any degrees, No it could mean 3 promotions in 5 years, or less and yes that is fast, when you think that these guys might be leading you into combat and their skill your life depends on.. Is this fast for you? For Sgt it would require another 2 years service meaning 8 years service 3 name rank that to me is probably half of someones carear. or perhaps a quarter. warrant officer another 3 year.. which these roles I beleive become more logistical 2 years 2 years... Promotion is possible but I wouldn't call years of service speedy promotion. I guess when your life is not on the line it may not seem fast, but i;d rather have someone with experience and time in calling the shots would;nt you.

Both are, The last orders the military received,was our Countries military operations would cease in 2011, Our government still has not decided on what foot print we are as a nation going to have in AFghan, in order for the CDS to accomplish his last orders he has to make massive plans well in advance he is trying to make the government tell him what thier future plans will be.... Who knows but DND has payed for the brunt of this mission and i can`t see it changing any time soon, hence why the military is trying so hard to get further orders from our government, so it can come up with a cost... Equipment is going to be left behind, as it would cost more to ship it than to bring it home, remember alot of that equipment is pretty much worn out, the newer stuff will return with then troops ....Just one point to remember that the Kanadar base is very vast, bigger than any one here in Canada so security is not an issue.

William thats not true, promotions within the military are at an all time high, movement within the ranks and officer levels is healthy, with lots of room for progression. As for the effectiveness of those older soldiers you talk about, i say bullshit, speaking as one of them i`m over 40 and have no problem running 10 kms in well under 40 mins, or rucking in the Afghan mountains for weeks on end.... And while my body does feel it, every soldier i`ve seen on the battle field earns his right to be there,,,and conditioning is one of those ways.... The miltary does have an age factor with a lot of it`s members being baby boomers, but this has been a problem for sometime now, and yet we still mange to complete all the tasks assigned to us by our government. I`ll make it simple William the CF has Standards , can`t make them your out...standards a little higher than your typical civilian job...DND takes these standards very serious and would not allow them to put lives at risk. You made alot of assumptions....

This conflict could be won so easily if we had the right resources and the means to deliver them, as for the people all they want is peace, and will support anyone who can provide it....the terrain, tell me about it, but nothing that can,t be over come by determination of it`s troops and helo,s ...If a Taliban soldier can supply his army with a donkey, we should be able to move montains with the right resources and equipment. Yes they have and yes they do, but ask any Afghan what he values more , and it is peace and being able to provide for his family,,,provide those 2 things and suddenly the taliban is not so attractive.

Thanks, good to be back.... It was not my intention to question your support, to which i'm grateful as without it many more Canadian soldiers would be in the news...I got the impression perhaps the wrong one that a soldiers opinion was being brushed away simply because he was acting or under orders...my point is his or her opinions should have as much merit as anyones, we don't have to agree but we should take the time and listen, perhaps find out why so many soldiers really are united on this topic. Not true, Our Navy is playing a large part, for it`s size that is in other areas, and is involved in the war on terror or the American side of it, these operations don`t receive that much media coverage but they are there, even listed on the DND web site on it`s current operations...And while we are perhaps not involved in the entire book on the war on terror we are mentioned in several chapters of it... I know your a big fan of the military jerry, and i`m not questioning that, Bin Laden is a small part of the puzzle right now, nobody even knows if he is alive or dead, and yet the war continues so NATO while continueing the search it is not one of it`s main focuses....trying to get more troops or do more with what it has now is...And while i will not BS you you on operations again`st Afghan nationals, most of those operations are for good reason...or hard core taliban. Afghan nationals or not they are working for the bad guys and again`st the Afghan majority. Thats what they told Gen Currie at Vimy, and yet Canada made it work....Our nation has contributed so much to Afghan not just on the battle field....and wqe have the ability to contribute so much more if given the time and resources....And while i agree with you there is many other nations in need we are here now, give us the time and resources to finish one job at a time.

Military is having people shortages across the board, and the navy is hit hard, but so is the rest of the forces...And ya i heard alot of guys say they're not going back....year after year...yet they're back there time after time,...

William have you been watching the news at all....most of your questions have already been covered.....

Are you saying with 100% certainty that this conflict can not be won because of the Russian invasion or Vietnam, I'm sure i could find a couple of examples in history that would prove that wrong....but then again none would be related to the present day Afghan conflict.

No, William i'm not again'st free speech, what i.m against is you and others doing on the backs of our fallen, want to make a point by all means do so....but the heading for this post disrespects those who have given their lives in something they believed in ... something you have said was a pointless waste...and yet they where the ones that made that sacrifice based on what they believed. How so, what do they mean to you as a Canadian William, your knowledge on the topic seems limited, and your comments full of emotion based on incomplete facts. I think i know how the forum works by now. I asked the question because your reply had topaz remarks not mine.... As i have said before William want to comment then post away, i however think it is inappropriate to do so on the backs of our fallen, when they clearly do not share your points or values...perhaps you can not express or articulate your piont without doing so....

Not sure if your addressing me or not william.

How so, when they are part of the same issue, without the War on terror there would be no War in Afghanistan. perhaps your suggesting something else. they are linked with the war in Afghan being one of it's chapters. Not true, lets not forget that these soldiers volunteered,it was them who stood up and said i think i got what it takes to make a difference and the Afghan mission is a noble cause..... and to further make a point these soldiers were reserve soldiers,they where not called up to active duty, but rather stood up and placed their name on a waiting list to serve their country....that alone has got to say something, about the character of these young men, so lets not dismiss what they are saying because they where just doing what they were told, but rather lets listen to what they have to say because they've earned that merit....atleast i think so.... And while these soldiers are being asked to volunteer by their government,they are expressing their opinions freely, much like you and me, as we all have to remember that it was 'us' the majority of Canadians that voted in both these governments that have kept us in this theater of war....if we are going to dismiss our soldiers opinions,perhaps we should also dismiss all those cons and liberals opinions as well, after all we did elect them and we all know that it is the people that influence how they act.... I guess only those NDP's and block party followers should be commenting on thise topic....

Here we are once again, using the deaths of soldiers and now a reporter to make a point, or in this case make a political point....Asking the same old questions over and over, ones that have been answered fully by not only this forum, our government, the media, and yet it simply alludes alot of Canadians.....want to make a point then do so, but lets not do it on the deaths of someone else... Frankly i'm a little disappointed in this whole thread which as most threads do quickly fade into a thousand different topics, and fails to concentrate on the main point.....or perhaps we all missed it,,,4 of our nations soldiers and a reporter, died in an IED attack....Doing the job this nation had assigned to them... I guess topaz had failed in reading her article she had posted, the why,where, is really spelled out in Taylors quotes....

A result of trying to rush in new tanks before thier time, It's been mentioned by serveral historians that it was these types of errors that kept germany from producing the numbers needed to keep it's tank fleets in par with it's enemies...Yes they produced a superior product , but lack the numbers to make a difference...They also produced to many model types, each model type had nummerous changes to it, which must have caused a logistical nightmare....This problem is reflected in all thier armour...Panthers, tigers, everything.

How about the largest tank ever made. German Maus tank weighed in at an incrediable 188 tons My linkwww.vincelewis.net/

The German panther tank, I think it deserves some mention here, ahead of it's time, once most of the problems were worked out. But it did have a major influence on todays tanks. My linkwww.achtungpanzer.

The Japanese have come along way in thier tank design, as seen here with thier latest Type 90 tank. Looks very similar to the Germany Leo II, and the ARV's got that american look to them. My linkpubs.globalsecurity.org/

I know it's alittle modern but here is a neat small tank with a large punch. CV90-T, armed with a 120mm main gun, and tones of defensive suits....Same family as the proposed new CCV vehs were are looking at. My linkwww.defencetalk.com/ Detailed data in the below link.... My link://www.military-today.

I was, I was frustrated with this whole event, as we just went thru with it just awhile ago, in reards to troops roughing up POW's which turned out to be false...And it looked like this was a repeat, however as time goes on it turns out that we all have been lied to, and it is very disappionting, as it will cast even more doubt on Canadians minds in regards to this mission. A mission that our nations soldiers have worked so hard at, and gave so much to...These lies threaten to undo all of that.

There is more to being a soldier than, Camaraderie, going with the flow, Soldiers are governed by many different laws and rules that dictate our actions, our way of thinking, our conduct....Civil law, military law, and inter-national law, plus the GC that Canada has signed on to. Break any of those laws and a soldier will be punished, in some cases on three different levels, for the same crime. Soldiers also have a code on honour that wraps all the above into one package, ensuring that a soldier does the right thing, at the right time. So while soldiers may be agressive in the terms they use to discribe the enemy, it's done for good reason, our primary job is to close with and destroy them, via the use of deadly force dehumunizing them is to make this job easier....but it does not mean that a soldier is uncapable of showing compasion,or be a good humanitarian when needed... I don't recall, ever getting nasty or coming across with an attitude with you, and if i have then i'm sorry it was not my intent. It has never been my intent to place doubt in your mind in regards to mine or other soldiers conduct or what they may be capable of doing. Most soldiers take great pride in adhereing to the military honour code. it is what keeps them balanced in very difficult times.

Hey DOP i thought the panther and tiger would have made your list. Not to mention any allied tanks

So what your really saying is thier is doubt in your mind, Canadian soldiers and the few Canadian officials in Afghan are capable of doing this...Capable of throwing everything we have worked so hard in building. For what exactly ? I'm not saying you don't support the troops or anything like that, what i'm asking is what placed this doubt or lack of trust in your mind ?

All this confusion is based on what exactly.... Do you honestly believe that our Nations Military would risk everything it's reputation, just so a few prisoners of War could be tortured, sorry i forgot a few famers, truck drivers, tailors, peasants, random human beings, when in reality most of the prisoners we take are off the battlefield...(even the media prints on each op we are on how many killed, taken prisoner...all available on line...) where just seconds before were shooting at us...so while he may be partially right they might not be High pri targets....but they are targets now the less...... I think there is a lack of trust between mr covin and the military....Our military does not have a quota that is set, and we take prisoners accordily, Most if not all prisoners we take are taken off the battlefield...you know guys with guns whom just seconds before were trying to put a bullet into a Canadians face....Farmers , truck drivers, tailors, peasents all must have a second job....And yet we are reading what in the media, all painting that picture or disent amoung Canadians....Canadians take the most prisoners....But we also run the most OP's and we are in a very target rich enviroment...but thats not mentioned, because that would put things into context...would it not... And somehow our prison that we hand over prisoners to is rank as one of the best Mr covin visted, the worst being the dutch's ....anything in the dutch papers...i wonder why that is.... I hope they do run an inquiry into all this bullshit...but i also hope they take action of some sort when it is proven false...and end this frigging prisoner treatment once and for all... This is not just about the top military personal, nor the government in charge....the genva convention spells out exactly how a prisoner is to be treated, and who is responsable and that runs right down to the pte that captured the poor prick......and Mr Covins statement, we are all to blame...including the Grunts on the ground....Once again we are left to explain accusations about prisoners abuse to the Canadian public, some soldiers have asked, where are our helo's, and other life saving equipment and go unheard... mention anything about some scumbag in cells, and you get peoples attention...maybe it should be us behind bars....

Israel defence budget is approx 12.4 Bil US dollars without US aid, with US aid it's 15.4 bil...hardly a make it or break it contribution... Somehow you forgot to mention what each of the other middle east countries recieve.

But the piont is it still had a role to play, yes it was re roled to keep up with ever changing tactics, and new tech, once tech allowed for a ship designed for the littoral role then the battleship as we know it was retired or should we say redesigned into a smaller lighter ship... Anything is possiable, i'm sure the German U boat commanders also have a great many of these stories as well, but then again so do the destroyers, and frigs and covette guys...sometimes murphy smiles upon you sometimes he sticks it to you.... One also has to put into contect the rules of engagement, even during the Vietnam war i'm sure carriers carried Nuk wpns...And from what i've read the new russian missle has perked up a shit load of US navy guys....as i'm sure a counter measure is on the books...all i'm saying is one wpns sys does not make an entire carrier battle group obsolete. So in ensence your saying manned fighters are going to be obsolete...that UCAV's of some form will rule tomorrow. That starts up an entirely new subject.... I guess i have some job security....i was kind of hoping for the opposite... My basic training Sgt, had a saying you can stop anything with the correct amount of balls and steel.... once a force is stalled it is hard for them to regain momentum needed to overcome an obsticle....such as a simple anti tank ditch...what works for them will also work in reverse...put enough metal on targets and something is going to give....we all don't get this lucky, thank god that the Taliban have not found this correct measure....but normally armoured forces do very well again'st grunts....

I guess the first step is to get our government to listen, listen to the voters...and if the voters place the military high enough on what they are looking at for the next leader of this country it will spur them into action..I know a large majority of Canadians are not happy with the state of our military, and many have spoken on this fact be it writing thier MP's rallies, , i guess we (citizens) are not unifed on the priorty we want our government to spend our tax dollars on... Well it goes along way in explaining lots of things, but it's not the only reasons. Over all i would say we have great leadership at the military level, and i do believe our government has our best interests in mind for the most part....and Canadians do care...i just hope we can all unite, and fix a problem that has rotted the forces for sometime now... I'm going to say yes, because of the way we are stuctured, and the way our government is structured which is a major road block in all the processes we have...we've created a mountain of red tape, and mounds of depts required to approve anything, from how much a soldier gets paided , to equipment purchases, basically everything the forces does...including combat... Both, when you live by the minute, you spend for that minute...also the way the entire government is set up for departmental funding...here is your budget , spend it or you'll get less next year...and there has been lots of spending , for the sake of spending....when this cash could have been used for something else...but this is a problem across every dept..not just DND. Our infamous purcurement process...another Made in Canada solution, that does nothing for the military, or for that matter for any dept i'm sure....I'll explain, the military wants to purchase a new truck.... it provides specs to PWSG a civlian organization...which goes out to the world with these specs, and gathers up wide varity of choices....sounds fair, much like telling your wife, i need a power tool that can cut a straight line...you can imagine what selection you will get....anyways from there we test them...we pick which one we want, thats within governmental regulations, that pretty much limit where when and what you buy....then it goes back to the government, it decides or comes back chose again, this time chose one that can be built or provide something back to Canada...a good rule normally but this is how we ended up with the famous LSVW...the government kept sending it back for testing until it passed, because it could be built in BC, by western star...DND had to take it down to the desert in the states to do final testing...guess what we have a truck that runs and works great in the desert...but sucks any where else....Yes we did approve it, but really it was a matter of approve or keep what you have now.... The perfect system would be tell DND we will fund you this year x amount of dollars to purchase equipment...follow these basic guide lines, some equipment will need governmental approval, such as stratigic equipemt like some types of ships, Subs, nuk wpns...that sort of thing...but the basic stuff like trucks tanks, helos, etc etc that should be a no brainer...And the purchases we do make should be justifiable to the government... Take a look at just what DND is on the hook for, all these expenditures in Afghan, that are not CIDA related are coming out of DND coffers...every mission is...any internal missions we do such as the olimpics, aid to civil power come out of DND coffers...plus there is other depts that come out of DND coffers, the Dept of emergancy prepations and planing, and a few more they are small but cut close to a bil or more off an already tight budget....It's all laid out in detail on each depts funding break down...not sure of the exact web site but it can be goggled... Not enough equipment to train on...bottom line there is just not enough vehs, wpns, night vision equipment, protective equipment, Basic clothing, we are short on everything....i don't mean a few here and there, most units only have 2/3 of thier peace time allotment of equipemt some less than 1/2...this shortage means DND moves it equipemt around alot....and when you place that muich demand on one piece it burns out much faster than expected, becomes even more expensive to maintain, etc etc ....for instance take the LAV III we have , when we purchased them we did not buy enough for each unit, now consider this all the equipement destroyed in training, subtract the equipment in use in Afghan, subtract the equipment destroyed in Afghan....and subtract the equipment just worn out because our numbers get smaller, and the remainder get used more....now we are in the market to replace the LAV III with serveral different makes and models...but we are once more going to buy less...because there simply is not enough funds... I'd say another issue is how we treat our wounded soldiers, yes we are getting better at it, but there simply not enough doctors or shrienks out there....Soldiers face long waiting times to get help they need... How we treat our families, always the last on every militaries list, but one of the most important... yes thier are family resource centers, and more programs in the last 5 years than we have ever had but more needs to be done in this area...not only providing our family members with the same access to doctors and shrienks....but also other programs such as affordable housing, more facilities, and other programs designed around the entire family unit....I once had a conversation with my son he was 9 years old on my last deplyment, it was a bad year for casualities, of course some of his classmates had lost thier fathers...and kids being kids made up a death poll...not all his class mates fathers where soldiers, yes the teachers put a stop to it, but it did play upon each of thier minds...this school now has a military support group, in which all military kids go in after school and just talk...and info is provided to them, things explained to them, rumours dispelled.... Don't get me wrong things are changing fast...but i would sacrifice some equipment purchases, to ensure our families have the best care money can buy... Overall we are well paid, well lead, and have the support of the people, and in return you have a great military that is well motivated to serve this nation, i just hope we can fix our problems together before it's to late...